Automated meter reading system
First Claim
1. A method of re-programming a utility meter, said utility meter comprising a microcontroller, said method comprising:
- providing a first memory containing first program code;
providing a second memory providing microcontroller control;
providing a third memory for storing metering data;
downloading an application programmer to said second memory;
utilizing said application programmer to control said utility meter;
downloading second program code while said application programmer is controlling said utility meter;
overwriting said first program code with said second program code; and
transferring control of said microcontroller to said second program code.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an automatic remote metering system in accordance with the invention a method is provided for reprogramming each client utility meter from a host computer by downloading a reprogram first program from the host to a corresponding hub utility meter fourth memory portion via a communications link, verifying integrity of the reprogram first program, and downloading the reprogram first program from the hub utility meter to the client utility meter via a radio frequency link and overwriting the client utility meter first program code with the reprogram first program code.
74 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of re-programming a utility meter, said utility meter comprising a microcontroller, said method comprising:
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providing a first memory containing first program code; providing a second memory providing microcontroller control; providing a third memory for storing metering data; downloading an application programmer to said second memory; utilizing said application programmer to control said utility meter; downloading second program code while said application programmer is controlling said utility meter; overwriting said first program code with said second program code; and transferring control of said microcontroller to said second program code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In an automatic meter reading system comprising a host computer and a plurality of groups of meters, each of said meters comprising a microcontroller operable to execute a firmware program, a method of reprogramming the firmware program of each of said meters, said method comprising:
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arranging each of said group of meters to have one corresponding hub meter and the remaining meters of said group as client meters, wherein communications between each client meter and said host computer is via its corresponding hub meter; providing in each said client meter a first memory containing first program code, a second memory providing microcontroller control, and a third memory for storing metering data; downloading an application programmer to said second memory via said hub meter; utilizing said application programmer to control said client meter, said application programmer being operable to continue communications at said client meter and being operable to perform metering operations while downloading program code; downloading second program code from said hub meter to said client meter while said application programmer is controlling said client meter; overwriting said first program code with said second program code; and transferring control of said microcontroller to said second program code. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In an automatic remote metering system, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of groups of utility meters, each group comprising a plurality of client meters and a corresponding one hub meter, providing each said client utility meter in a group with a microcontroller for controlling metering operations and communications, a first memory containing first program code, a second memory providing microcontroller control, and a third memory for storing metering data, and a radio frequency link to said corresponding hub utility meter; providing said corresponding hub utility meter in a group with a microcontroller for controlling metering operations and communications, a first memory containing second program code, a second memory providing microcontroller control, a third memory for storing metering data, a fourth memory, a radio frequency link to said client utility meters in said group, and a communications link to a host computer; reprogramming each said client utility meter by downloading a reprogram first program from said host to said corresponding hub utility meter fourth memory via said communications link, verifying integrity of said reprogram first program, and downloading said reprogram first program from said hub utility meter to said client utility meter first program via said radio frequency communications link and overwriting said client utility meter first program code with said reprogram first program code. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. In an automatic remote metering system, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of groups of utility meters, each group comprising a plurality of client meters and a corresponding one hub meter; providing each said client utility meter in a group with a microcontroller for controlling metering operations and communications, a first memory portion containing first program code, a second memory portion providing microcontroller control, and a third memory portion for storing metering data, and a radio frequency communications link to said corresponding hub utility meter; providing said corresponding hub utility meter in a group with a microcontroller for controlling metering operations and communications, a first memory portion containing second program code, a second memory portion providing microcontroller control, a third memory portion for storing metering data, a fourth memory portion, a radio frequency communications link to said client utility meters in said group, and a cellular communications link to a host computer; reprogramming each said client utility meter from said host computer by downloading a reprogram first program from said host to said corresponding hub utility meter fourth memory portion via said cellular communications link, verifying integrity of said reprogram first program, and downloading said reprogram first program from said hub utility meter to said client utility meter first memory portion via said radio frequency communications link and overwriting said client utility meter first program code with said reprogram first program code. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. In an automatic remote metering system, the method comprising:
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providing a host computer; providing a plurality of groups of utility meters, each group comprising a plurality of client meters disposed within geographic proximity to a corresponding one hub meter; providing each said client utility meter in a group with a microcontroller for controlling metering operations and communications, a first memory portion containing first program code, a second memory portion providing microcontroller control, and a third memory portion for storing metering data, and a short range radio frequency communications link to said corresponding hub utility meter; providing said corresponding hub utility meter in a group with a microcontroller for controlling metering operations and communications, a first memory portion containing second program code, a second memory portion providing microcontroller control, a third memory portion for storing metering data, a fourth memory portion, a radio frequency link to said client utility meters in said group, and a communications link to a host computer; operating each said client utility meter and said corresponding hub meter such that metering information from each said client utility meter is uploaded to said host computer by utilizing said corresponding hub meter to relay said metering information to said host computer; reprogramming each said client utility meter from said host computer by downloading a reprogram first program from said host to said corresponding hub utility meter fourth memory portion via said communications link, verifying integrity of said reprogram first program, and downloading said reprogram first program from said hub utility meter to said client utility meter first memory portion via said radio frequency link and overwriting said client utility meter first program code with said reprogram first program code. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification